Our Study Tour to Northern Ontario

Over the past week, the OLIP interns had the incredible opportunity to participate in an inaugural study tour to Northern Ontario. Over the course of our journey, we flew from Toronto to Thunder Bay, and subsequently navigated Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul, and Kingfisher Lake.

Partnering with MPP Mamakwa, our tour primarily encompassed an exploration of the riding of Kiiwetinoong. Located in northwestern Ontario, Kiiwetinoong is just under 300,000 square kilometres and comprises a population of approximately 33,000, making it the largest riding by geography and smallest by population.

MPP Mamakwa was a generous host who guided us through an enriching learning experience of his riding. Halving our group, we had the opportunity to drive with him and his cousin, Sonny, from Thunder Bay to Sioux Lookout on the second day of our tour, granting us a beautiful, scenic journey of the northern routes. We visited Kakabeka Falls, Ontario's second largest waterfall which plunges 40 metres into a gorge of tea-stained waters, as well as the Arctic watershed, which divides northern water into Hudson Bay or the Arctic Ocean, while south-flowing water heads toward the Great Lakes and eventually the Atlantic Ocean.

Passing into the central time zone, we reached Sioux Lookout, also known as the Hub of the North. It was here that the interns met Dan O'Connor, a Treaty 3 Police Officer, who escorted us to his camp on Lac Seul. Over the following two days, we spent time exploring the region through a variety of activities, including boating to different beaches and wetlands, fishing, and learning about the natural landscapes and wildlife. We are deeply appreciative of Jess Fiddler, who took the time to guide our excursions, alongside MPP Mamakwa and Dan.

Our education took on discussion forms, as well. Namely, we spoke with Dan's parents, Dennis and Shirley, who shared their experiences in relation to the history and closure of residential schools and their cross-generational impacts, and the ongoing governmental efforts toward Indigenous reconciliation. Bridging off these conversations, we also gained insights from MPP Mamakwa sharing his perspectives as an elected representative of the riding, as well as his experiences growing up on Kingfisher Lake First Nation reserve. We are thankful for how generous and candid our hosts were with sharing deeply personal stories, and we learned a great deal through the lessons embedded within these anecdotes, from histories to moose-hunting successes.

Concluding our time in Lac Seul, we also bid goodbye to David and Leah Jackson, who are videographers who joined us for our time at camp. It was wonderful to spend time with them and learn about their canoe expeditions across Canada; it was amazing to hear these different avenues of exploring the country, and learn about various regions' geographies and wildlife. We are also looking forward to viewing the tour documentary of our time with MPP Mamakwa at Dan's camp!

We next ventured to Kingfisher Lake with MPP Mamakwa, where we gained first-hand perspectives of the reservation he grew up on. We met with Eddy Mamakwa, Chief of Kingfisher, as well as Band Council Members, and James Mamakwa, former Chief, to learn about the past and present times of the Band. Specifically, we spoke to ongoing projects and priorities on the reserve, legends of the land, and how history and government relations continue to inform contemporary conditions.

After taking a charter flight back to Thunder Bay, the interns met with the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council (NNEC) on our final day of the study tour. NNEC is an organization that supports a sustainable model of First Nations education systems, with a focus on reinforcing cultural identity and delivering secondary and post secondary services to support students from the Pelican Falls First Nations High School and Centre, Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, and Wahsa Distance Education Centre. NNEC is also a safe sobering site; the interns had the opportunity to learn about the different amenities and programs offered by the organization to support students and guide their development and welfare in Thunder Bay. We would like to extend our gratitude to Cherity Calder, Dobi Frenette, and Phalen Iserhoff, for meeting with us and sharing their anecdotes and insights about the realities of First Nation education systems, as well as their initiatives to support a healthy, individual welfare-oriented community.

Altogether, our study tour to Northern Ontario was a fascinating journey of rich learning experiences. Ranging from explorations to conversations, we faced no shortage in opportunities to gain new perspectives from our generous hosts. We would like to thank MPP Mamakwa and his team, Athena and Bridget, for coordinating this tour for us and opening the doors to this opportunity. We would also like to thank Dan, Sonny, Jess, David, Leah, Eddy, and James, as well as the NNEC team, for supporting and enriching our time in Northern Ontario. We are so incredibly grateful for having been able to meet with you all, and learn from you.